What is the ejection fraction of the left ventricle?
The left ventricular (LVEF) ejection fraction is a measure of the heart's ability to draw blood. It is measured by echocardiography (echo) and is used to diagnose and monitor heart failure. High or low Lvef values indicate that the heart does not work properly. The right side of the heart draws blood into the lungs where blood can pick up oxygen and release carbon dioxide. After circulating the lungs, the blood returns to the left side of the heart. The blood is then distributed to the rest of the body of the left ventricle.
The left ventricular ejection fraction is the measurement used to assess the heart function. According to the definition, the left ventricular fraction is the amount of blood drawn from the heart divided by the volume of the left ventricle before the heart contraction. It represents how many blood associated in the left chamber can be sent to the body. Reflects contractility or heart strength. Normal LVEF values range from 55 percent to 80 percent for resting patients, with an average value of 67 percent.
The left ventricular fraction fraction is usually determined by echocardiography. This imaging technology uses sound waves to provide a heart image in real time when it progresses through cycles of rest and drawing. Echocardiographers can determine the ejection fraction of the left ventricle by the visual evaluation of two -dimensional images showing the blood flow leaving the left ventricle.
having a fraction with low left ventricular ejections usually means that the heart cannot draw blood as effectively as a healthy heart can. It is often a finding associated with the failure of the left ventricle. In fact, a low LVEF patient is considered to be heart failure, even if they have no clinical symptoms that suggest. After the diagnosis of heart failure, patients usually receive regular echocardiograms to monitor the drop of the Lvef. The decreasing level of LVEF could indicate the need for more aggressive therapies.
High ejection fraction with a high left ventricular may also indicate the presence of heart disease. Values greater than 80 PROgent often shows the dysfunction of a quiet heart. In this pathological condition, the heart muscles become stiff and the left ventricular filling from the left atrium is disturbed. The left chamber is able to draw the blood it receives, as evidenced by the high ejection fraction of the left ventricle. However, this amount of blood is not enough and the body suffers from a lack of oxygenated blood from the heart.